Automatic fluid lift



July 22, 1930. A. L. GRIFFITH AUTQMATIQ FLLIID LIFT Filed April 30, 1929 Inwntm i; gm-

Attorney Patented July 22, 1930 Unitas sr 'rrs ARCI-IYBAL L. GRIFFITH,

AUTOMATIC Application filed April 30,

This invention relates to fluid lifts and is more particularly adapted'i'or connection to the end of the conductor pipes in oil and gas wells, and an object of the invention is to utilize the gas pressure in oil and gas wells for automatically forcing oil or water to the surface of the ground. This device will keep the sand dry at all times by taking very little gas through the tubing, and will conserve the gas by eliminating opening the wells into the air to relieve them of fluid, also preventing coning of water, and keep sand dry at all times.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of the character referred to, which is strong, compact and durable, thoroughly reliable in its operation, very simple in its method of assembly and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With the foregoing and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is disclosed an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that various changes, and modifications may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views: 7

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the device, in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken sub stantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 33 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Water problems of one kind or another must be dealt with at almost every stage in operating a gas held, and as the field grows older, the trouble caused by water tends to increase both in number and severity. New fields are generally subject to edge water encroachment, together with water coning, shut ting oil more and more of the gas until the well involved goes entirely to water. As stated above, this device will take very little the threaded opening 18 in the area'ot the er end 11 of the tubular member 9. It is to OF CUSHING, OKLAHOMA FLUID LIFT the tubular member 9 about onethird of the length of the tubular member from the to thereof is rigidly secured between the walls 0 V the casing and tubular member, an imp rate annular ditch 1 3: which partitions in an air tight manner the space between the tu. lar walls and the spacing walls.

The latter construction provides for passage of the gas from the well pocket as will be presently disclosed.

Intermediate the partition disk and the lower end of the tubular'member 11, the easing' is formed with three pairs of diametrical ly disposed axially spaced openings 15, 1G, and 1?,the upper opening 15 of which is spaced below the partition disc 1-1- and the lower 17 being spaced fromthe closed bot tom end 6 01"- the casing. Above the partition disc 14 and spaced at quadrants around spacing walls 5 series 01-5 aligned op ings 18 which extend into the-comp;

between the casing and tubular member in? that the gas from the well pocket may flow into the same upwardly to force the oil to the surface of the ground. The upper end 10 r the tubular member 9 terminates subjacei 9o inwardly flared annular shoulder "T. In the operation of the device, the internally threaded reduced end 8 of the outer casmg is screwed on the lower'end oi the conductor pipe which is lowered into the well, where upon the casing 5 is disposed in the well pocket, The oil enters the-casing 5 through the series of openings 15, 16, and 17, and collects in the lower closed end 6 surrounding thelow- V.

be understood, of course, that the conductor pipe is lowered and the well casing and packing is interposed between the outside of the conductor pipe and the inner walls of the inner casing so as to prevent the escape of gas.

This practice is common in the oil fields and is well known in the art. The imperferate partition disc 14 prevents oil from lowing into the upper compartment of the casing 5 and gas is admitted thereto through the series of openings 18 and flows through the compartment or space between the tubular member 9 and the walls or the casing 5 and through the inwardly flared shoulders 7, thereby creating a suction at this point, while at the same time forcing the oil that has been drawn through into the reduced end 8, upwardly into the conductor pipe (not shown in this drawing). In this manner, the oil is forced to the surface of the ground by the automatic action of the gas in the oil pocket.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A device of the character referred to comprising an outer hollow casing having axially spaced openings intermediate its ends, said casing having a reduced end provided with an inte. nally threaded opening in communication with the interior thereof for connection to an oil conduct-ing pipe, a tubular member supported in spaced relation to the inner walls of the casing and an imperforate partition wall secured to the tubular member and the casing subjacent the highest opening, said tubular member terminating in spaced relation to the opposite ends of said casing.

2. A device of the character referred to comprising an outer hollow casing having axially spaced openings intermediate its ends, said casing having a reduced end provided with an internally threaded opening in communication with the interior thereof for connection to an oil conducting pipe, a tubular member supported in spaced relation to the inner walls of the casing and an imperi orate partition wall secured to the tubular member and the casing subjacentthe highest opening, said tubular member tn '1i nating in spaced relation tothe opposite ends of said casing, and above and below the openmgs.

3. A device of the character referred to comprising an outer hollow casing having axially spaced openings intermediate its ends, said casing having a reduced end provided with an internally threaded opening communication with the interior thereof for connection to an oil conducting pipe, a tubular member supported in spaced relation to the inner walls of the casing and an imperforate partition wall secured to the tubular member and the casing subjacent the highest opening, said tubular member terminating in spaced relation to the opposite ends of said casing and above and below the openings the walls of the casing merging with the threaded opening flared inwardly to provide increased tension at the upper mouth of the tubular member.

l. A device of the class described comprising an outer hollow casing having axially spaced openings intermediate its ends, one end of the casing being opened, means at the outer end of the casing for engaging the same with an oil conducting pipe, a tubular member supported in spaced relation to the inner walls of the casing, and an imperiorated partition wall secured to the tubular member and the casing subjacent the upper openings, said tubular member extending above and below the partition wall and terminating in spaced relation to the closed end of the casing.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

ARCHYBAL L. GRIFFITH.

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